If you are hiring untrained workers to take part in Gulf Coast oil spill cleanup efforts, you’d better think again. As a result of having received numerous reports that supervisors of oil spill workers are not receiving the required rigorous training under OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard, OSHA issued a statement expressing concern.

“In order to meet the certifications of this 40-hour training, a combination of classroom and hands-on, applicable experience is required,” according to OSHA. HAZWOPER 40-hour training and 3 days of field experience are required for all those who supervise shoreline cleanup crews and workers on vessels doing work that involves weathered oil. Less rigorous training is required for oil spill cleanup workers who are not supervisors.

In its statement, OSHA encourages supervisors to contact the closest OSHA office and file a complaint if they feel they have not received proper HAZWOPER training. This is something you should keep in mind when hiring workers.

The following is a quick overview of the training requirements for Gulf oil spill response workers:

• Employees doing work that does NOT involve materials contaminated by the spill must receive at least 45 minutes of training.
• Workers cleaning contaminated shoreline need 4 hours’ training.
• Cleanup workers on a vessel need 8 hours’ training.
• Employees are not permitted to participate in or supervise field activities until they’ve been trained to perform their job function and to meet their responsibilities.
• Trainers must have satisfactorily completed a training program for teaching these sessions or the academic credentials and instructional experience necessary for teaching the subjects.
• Employees and supervisors who successfully complete the training must be certified by the instructor. These trainees must receive written certificates demonstrating successful completion.

INFO: Contact BLR’s David Galt at 800-727-5257, Ext. 2378.